With Methuens Column on an Ambulance Train | Page 9

high rate of pay when one
remembers that the British soldier, who ran much greater risk and did
more actual fighting, received less than 1s. Of course there were
volunteers here and there like myself who possessed some means of our
own and so thought it right and proper to return our pay to the Widows'
and Orphans' Fund, but nevertheless I fail to see why we should be paid
at this exorbitant rate. The most glaring instances of over-paid troops
were the Rimington Scouts, who actually received 10s. a day and their
rations. One trembles to think of the bill we shall all have to pay at the
close of the campaign!
The articles most in request at De Aar were things like "Rose's lime

juice cordial," Transvaal tobacco, cigarettes, jam, tinned salmon,
sardines, etc. Now it happened that the entire retail trade of the place
was in the hands of two Jewish merchants. The more fashionable of the
two shops took advantage of our necessities and demanded most
exorbitant prices for its goods. "Lime juice cordial," _e.g._, which
could be got for 1s. 6d. or 1s. 3d. in Capetown, was sold for 2s. 6d. and
3s. at De Aar, and the other charges were correspondingly high.
Nemesis, however, overtook the shopman, for the camp commandant
hearing of his evil deeds placed a sentry in front of the store and so put
it out of bounds. He held out for a couple of days, while his more
reasonable if less pretentious rival flourished exceedingly, but a daily
loss of £200 is too severe a tax on the pertinacity of a Jew, or indeed of
anybody, so the rival tariffs were arranged on similar lines, and the
sentry sloped rifle and walked off. The mission workers at De
Aar--some excellent people--dwelt in two railway carriages on a siding.
There were, I think, two ladies and a gentleman. They worked
exceedingly hard and their mission tent was generally well filled. It is
astonishing what keenness is evoked by evangelical services with
"gospel hymns". We all sang a hymn like "I do believe, I will believe,"
with an emphasis which seemed to imply that the effort was
considerable, but that nobody, not even a Boer commando, could alter
our conviction. Many of the hymns--poor doggerel from a literary point
of view--were sung to pleasing tunes wonderfully well harmonised by
the men's voices. Then there was a brief address by a young man with a
serious and kindly face, and this was succeeded by a series of
ejaculatory prayers taken up here and there by the men. It was a strange
and impressive spectacle to see a soldier rise to his feet, his beard rough
and unkempt, his khaki uniform all soiled and bedraggled, and
forthwith proceed to utter a long prayer. Such prayers were largely
composed of supplications on behalf of wives and families at home,
and one forgot the bad grammar, the rough accent and the monotonous
repetition in one's sympathy for these honest fellows who were not
ashamed to pray.
Would we Churchmen had more enthusiasm and courage in our
teaching and our methods! This was the quality that enabled the infant
church to emerge from its obscure dwelling in a Syrian town and
spread all the world over. It is this warmth of conviction which lent

fortitude to the martyrs of old time, and at this moment breathes valour
into our brave enemies. But where is such vital enthusiasm to be found
in the Church of England? In one of our cathedrals we read the epitaph
of a certain ecclesiastic: "He was noticeable for many virtues, and
sternly repressed all forms of religious enthusiasm". History repeats
itself, and for manly outspeaking on great questions of social and
political importance the laity are learning to look elsewhere than to the
pulpit. Oh! for one day in our National Church of Paul and Athanasius
and Luther, men who spoke what they felt, unchecked by thoughts
about promotion and popularity and respectability. Enthusiastic
independence is as unpopular in religion as it is in politics; and the
fight against prejudice and unfairness is often exceeding bitter to the
man who dares to run his tilt against the opinion of the many. The
struggle sometimes robs life of much that renders it sweet; nevertheless
it may help to make history and will bring a man peace at the last, for
he will have done what he could to leave the world a little better than
he found it. These good mission-folk looked after our physical as well
as our spiritual necessities. They had annexed a small house and garden
just opposite their tent, and here we could buy an excellent cup of tea or
lemonade for one penny, as well as a variety of delectable buns,